Thorndon C of E Primary School

Our school vision is 'Believe and Achieve' and we achieve this through our school curriculum and the opportunities we offer the children. Our school curriculum follows the programmes of study as defined in the Primary National Curriculum (2014).

We believe our curriculum is broad and balanced and ambitious for all pupils, including those with a special educational needs or disability. It is well sequenced and coherently planned.  Our curriculum aims to enable all children to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens, by teaching and focusing on the attitudes and attributes necessary for learning, and the knowledge, understanding and skills required to be successful in all subjects. We also believe in the principle of greater learner involvement in their work, results in a meaningful curriculum which promotes high standards.

There is a strong focus on the teaching and attainment of the key skills in English and Mathematics in all phases, so children can transfer these skills to other areas of the curriculum.

We teach subjects discretely, through well sequenced lessons, as we believe this is the best way children gain knowledge of that subject and are able to practise learnt skills. By the end of the academic year, the children will have a gained detailed knowledge and understanding of the areas studied across all subject areas, which will be built upon in future years.  

In their curriculum studies, we endeavour to develop children who:

• enjoy learning, are keen and eager to gain knowledge and learn new skills;
• apply learnt skills across the curriculum;
• can make links between subjects and their learning;
• have enquiring minds;
• are motivated, aspirational and become increasingly independent learners, taking responsibility for their own learning and actions;
• are aware of their own strengths and weaknesses;
• are reflective, resilient and demonstrate perseverance;
• are happy and confident enough to ask for help, and able to collaborate with others;
• set themselves personal challenges and use their initiative;
• strive for high achievements;
• take pride in the achievement of others.

• All year groups have Forest Schools sessions. 
• Years 5 and 6 have weekly instrument tuition (one hour) from the Suffolk Music Service.
• Children are taught PE by sports coaches.
• Years 3 and 4 have swimming lessons at the local pool.
• We run a week long residential visit for Year 6.
• All children take part in school performances every year.
• Children have the opportunity to take part in various sporting events and tournaments.

We use Corner Stones as the basis of our curriculum for the following subjects: science, history, geography, art and design and technology. To find out more about Corner Stones and the curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact, please click on the links below.

Detailed information regarding the core and foundation curriculum subjects can be found by clicking on the subject links below and if you have any questions regarding any aspect of the curriculum, please speak to your child's class teacher or Ms Meadowcroft (Head of School).